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Budget Rent-A-Car at Southampton Airport

Explore Hampshire with Budget Car Hire

Car hire in Southampton, Hampshire and beyond

Southampton is the largest city in Hampshire, which is located on the south coast of England. It is roughly 120km from London towards the southwest.

Southampton is known as a major port and has plenty of water surrounding it, including the River Test, River Itchen and Southampton Water. There is also the River Hamble, which flows through the urban areas of the city.

In the past Southampton has been occupied by the Saxons whilst the Normans also occupied the area centuries ago. It is advised to rent a car to truly explore the city and its history.

A car is required for maximum flexibility when visiting the port where the Titanic launched and to explore the sites of old ruins. Southampton suffered greatly during World War II, being repeatedly bombed and around 31.5 million men left its shores for France.

Today Southampton is a vibrant city with boulevards, parks and shopping centres. You can still see some of the damage of the past in the older buildings that remain but have yet to be fully restored. This area of England is generally a starting point for many visitors planning to travel to places such as the New Forest and Winchester, and even further outside the county to places such as the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth.

In fact some of the best places to see around Southampton are in the outlying areas, which can be explored in style and economically when you choose one of our hire cars. The biggest attraction within the city limits is the Southampton Maritime Museum.

The museum reflects the city's maritime heritage and is an important site to see before heading anywhere else. After a morning stroll through the museum, you can explore West Quay Retail Park. This is a great shopping venue with plenty of markets, international stores and local goods to enjoy.

The New Forest is a few miles from Southampton and a great place to enjoy nature. In the New Forest you can visit the entire area that William the Conqueror set up as a private hunting preserve. Henry VIII also enjoyed hunting in this forest. It supplied the oak used to construct the British naval fleet, whilst the ships were built at Beaulieu River boatyards. The shipyards are impressive and worth a visit by car.

You can also stop by the Maritime Museum at Buckler’s Hard if you enjoy your history. Before you leave the New Forest, make sure you don’t miss a trip to Beaulieu Abbey and Palace House, home to the National Motor Museum. During the 1200s an abbey was founded on the spot; today you can visit the ruins and learn about the history. You can also visit the palace which was built in the 1500s. Today the museum and palace have a wide range of wall hangings, furniture and other antiques on show.

The Motor Museum houses many of the cars that were used in the James Bond movies and is therefore a must see for any 007 fan. Even those who are not interested in cars will be swept up in the glamour and sense adventure.

You can find more than 250 rare models from around the world. Although we don’t offer them in our range, renting a car with us for a trip to Southampton and the surrounding area ensures fun and flexibility.